Ralle36 Update

"Santiago of Escuderia Boricua" (sdiglesias)
06/16/2015 at 23:10 • Filed to: Ralle36

Beemer life has been interesting so far. After putting it off long enough I have finally started the rally prep.

This past sunday I did the rear struts. Easy enough, remove wheels, disconnect strut, put new strut on, bolt everything up. I’m using Bilstein HDs until I have a few rallies under my belt and I’ll actually be able to use better suspension.

Today I got my engine parts and got to wrenching. First job was the cam position sensor which was throwing a CEL. It’s a hall effect sensor held in place by an allen bolt. Easy right? Nah, I had to take off the VANOS (vvt) solenoid to get to it. This required me to run to the hardware store and get a 32mm wrench that was quite expensive.

Oh well, done and done. On to the next engine code, which was an oxygen sensor. I’ve never done one of these and the repair manual I have was pretty useless. Thanks to google I figured out I would need crow sockets. Off to O’Reilleys to buy those. After much frustration and cursing, I got that replaced. Next time I fire it up I should be clear of codes!

It was still somewhat early so I decided to try and tackle the front struts. Because of 15 years of Michigan weather, just getting everything apart was a significant challenge. Eventually I was able to get the front strut off. Check the manual for the next steps, and shit I forgot to buy a spring compressor. Front suspension work will have to continue tomorrow.

Once suspension is done, I will begin stripping the interior and probably put in the order for the cage. My target is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in October.

DISCUSSION (20)

M54B30 > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/16/2015 at 23:30

Ahem, “Bimmer.”

Dusty Ventures > M54B30
06/16/2015 at 23:32

“Bummer”

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Dusty Ventures
06/16/2015 at 23:39

Nothing but smiles in a RWD rally car

yamahog > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 08:10

PB blast everything thoroughly about a half hour before/when you make your tool runs. Lessons learned from Jeep lyfe.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > yamahog
06/17/2015 at 08:13

That first can is already empty. I’m going to get some more today

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 09:17

That’s not a Beemer though.

Also, why are you buying a 32mm when a 1-1/4” is the same size and cheaper?

Why isn’t that easy though? Doing the Cam Pos Sensor? You literally had to remove only 1 other component to get to it? If you think that’s not easy, just until your knock sensors crumble and you have to remove your intake plenum to get to them..... Or if you have to do so also for your crank pos sensor

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 09:38

Ran downdown the block to ace hardware, it was about the same price as the 1 1/4. Getting to the connector was difficult as well, wedging my arm under the intake

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 09:49

Buy a cheapass Duralast one from Auto zone.

The Cam sensor is probably the second simplest sensor to replace on the whole engine.

I’ve had 2 E36s. That’s what I’m basing my assertion on.

Plus what code (code number) are you basing the CPS being bad on? The CPS is actually a very rare failure point

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 09:55

Fault log report generated by Torque for Android=================================================

Vehicle VIN: Not present

Vehicle Manufacturer: Unknown

Vehicle Calibration ID: Not present

Current Fault Log—————————

P0340: Camshaft Position Sensor “A” Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

Pending Fault Log—————————

P1189: [BMW] Fuel Control (Bank 2 Sensor 1)

[Chrysler] Engine Oil Pressure (EOP) Switch CircuitCircuit

[Dodge] Engine Oil Pressure (EOP) Switch Circuit

[Jeep] Engine Oil Pressure (EOP) Switch CircuitCircuit

[Seat/Audi/Volkswagen] Linear 02 Sensor / Compens. Resistor Short to B+

P0154: O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (Bank 2 Sensor 1)

P0173: Fuel Trim Malfunction (Bank 2)

P0500: Vehicle Speed Sensor

Historic Fault Log—————————

ECU reports no historic faults

Other discovered fault codes(possibly pending, current or manufacturer specific)——————————————————————————

ECU reports no other fault codes logged

End of report.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 10:02

That code can possibly indicate a bad VANOS (internal seals leaking), bad VANOS solenoid also.

I guess you’ll know once you clear the codes and check again if it returns.

In my case, it was a leaky VANOS (internal seals)

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 10:07

The guy I bought the car from gave me a new vanos seal that he never got around to installing. I’ll probably start it up today and see what happens

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 10:19

your Vehicle Speed Sensor is on the diff, FYI... Is your Tach or Speedo not working?

It’s super easy to replace :)

all your other codes are for sure O2 sensor.... What year and model E36 is it? I have some old O2 sensors (from my E38 and my E36, I think) I don’t need and would gladly give you

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 10:28

99 328is, so it has four apparently. Spares are always useful.

Tach and speedo both work. I was planning on taking it out and cleaning it with brakleen.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 10:57

You only need the front 2 sensors. The trailing 2 (post cat) are only there to tell the ECU that the cats are working. They’re useless otherwise

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 11:39

That’s what I read. The Bentley repair manual was surprisingly useless regarding those. It just said they varied between models and how to test them

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 20:42

True... feel free to just take one from the rear and install on the front.. It will have no ill effect on performance.

I looked through my spares and I don’t have any.

I do have spare wheel speed sensors though, and struts and rear shocks, and some swaybars.

Got photos of the Bimmer?

I’ve autocrossed mine a bit

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 23:22

It’s actually this car

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 23:30

So I just finished up the front right and started up the car. Got the CPS code to clear, but the engine still won’t go over ~5500 rpm, it just kind of bounces around there. VANOS seal issue?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/17/2015 at 23:42

I don’t think that’s VANOS related. That very well could be the Vehicle Speed Sensor on the diff or one the rear wheel speed sensors on the hub.... is your ABS working?

I’ve heard of this RPM problem caused by a faulty wheel speed sensor...

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
06/17/2015 at 23:44

The ABS light on the dash is lit up. Does that mean that ABS is working or that there is a problem with the ABS?